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West Basin Water News | Winter 2020

West Basin Boosts Conservation Programs with Additional Savings for Businesses and Residents

West Basin recently rolled out new enhancements to its Cash for Kitchens (C4K) and Change & Save conservation programs, which provide a variety of opportunities for residents and businesses to save water, energy and money.

C4K provides free water efficiency devices, educational materials, and appliance rebate information to participating businesses that will reduce overhead costs and help employees become more water-use efficient. The program is designed to encourage and boost behavioral changes that will result in water-efficient kitchen operations and business practices. In addition to on-site water-use efficiency surveys, free pre-rinse spray valves and flow restrictors, other C4K Program enhancements include appliance rebates for larger water saving devices such as air-cooled ice machines, dishwashers and connectionless steamers. West Basin aims to create long-lasting operational and institutional changes that empower kitchen staff and restaurant management with the knowledge, skills and tools to incorporate water conservation into their day-to-day business operations.

For a limited time, the District’s Change & Save Program (formerly called the Disadvantaged Community Water Energy Savings Initiative Program) is offering eligible residents free water savings device kits and a $500 rebate for qualifying high-efficiency clothes washers. West Basin, in partnership with the South Bay Environmental Services Center, is now scheduling appointments for the program’s in-home water surveys. Upon completion of the survey, residents will receive their water savings kit containing a high-efficiency faucet aerator and shower head estimated to produce a combined water savings of 2,000 gallons annually.

Additional water conservation programs including West Basin’s grass replacement incentive, water bottle filling station program and its free rain barrel distributions continue to be available.

West Basin Board of Directors Elects Gloria D. Gray as Board President

At the January 2020 board meeting, the West Basin Municipal Water District board of directors elected Gloria D. Gray (Division II) to serve as its board president, while Harold C. Williams (Division I) was elected to serve as the board’s vice president for 2020. Directors Carol W. Kwan and Donald L. Dear were named board treasurer and board secretary, respectively.

“I look forward to providing leadership to the West Basin board and I am honored to be elected by my colleagues to serve as the board president for 2020,” said President Gray. “As a board, we will continue to protect our existing water supply through our innovative water management and water-efficiency programs, while also securing local, drought-resilient resources for the communities we serve.”

Gray was first elected to the West Basin board of directors in 2006 and was most recently re-elected in 2018. She represents Division II, which includes the city of Inglewood and unincorporated Los Angeles County areas of Lennox, South Ladera Heights, West Athens and Westmont. Gray was also appointed to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) Board of Directors in 2009 to serve as one of two West Basin representatives. In 2018, she was elected Chair of the MWD Board, where she is currently serving a two-year term. Gray is the second woman and first person of color to serve as Chair of the MWD Board.

West Basin’s board organization occurs annually at its January board meeting. The president of the board will facilitate the appointment of committees and assignment of representatives to affiliate organizations, and shall have the primary responsibility for interpreting the policies, programs and needs of the District to the public.

West Basin Announces 2020 Schedule for Public Outreach Programs

West Basin announced the schedule of its public outreach programs for 2020, which includes the return of its popular Lunch and Learn class series, Water 101 class and free Saturday public tours of its Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility (ECLWRF) in El Segundo.

West Basin’s Lunch and Learn classes offer service area residents the opportunity to learn about local water issues, available community programs and the District’s efforts to secure the region’s water supplies. Classes are led by District subject-matter experts and will cover topics including: Water Supply Reliability, Water-Use Efficiency and Water Desalination. The series will consist of seven classes, which take place at the Water Education Center (WEC) on the first Friday of each month from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. with lunch provided. The District will also host a Water 101 class at the WEC on Wednesday, March 4 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Enhancements to the WEC include renovation of educational displays and expansion of the conference room spaces which can now host community group meetings and professional water industry conferences. Free public tours of the ECLWRF are also available and will provide an opportunity to see the recycled water production process first-hand and learn about the five different types of customer-specific recycled water that West Basin produces. Tours are available one Saturday per month from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For the full program schedule, more information about West Basin’s public outreach programs and to register for a class or workshop, visit: www.westbasin.org/free-public-programs. Advance registration is required for all classes and tours.

West Basin Connects Local Park to Recycled Water System

On January 29, West Basin celebrated the connection of Private James Anderson Park to the District’s recycled water system. The recreational park in the City of Carson will use locally-produced recycled water from West Basin to irrigate the landscape, picnic areas and amphitheater.

“West Basin remains committed to ensuring water reliability throughout the service area,” said West Basin Division I Director Harold Williams, who represents Carson. “Connecting Private James Anderson Park to the District’s recycled water system further strengthens the District’s partnership with the City of Carson and showcases the city’s own stewardship efforts to help diversify our water resources and protect the region’s limited drinking water supply.”

Approximately 10 acre-feet per year (AFY) of recycled water produced at West Basin will flow throughout the site. The District also supplies other recreation and industrial sites in Carson with recycled water for a total of 500 AFY. This includes Dominguez Technology Center, which uses about 135 acre-feet per year. Since the program began in 1995, West Basin has invested more than $600 million in recycled water and produced more than 200 billion gallons of recycled water.

District Small and Local Business Enterprise Program Encourages Community Participation

West Basin has a Small and Local Business Enterprise Program that provides incentives to encourage the community’s participation in the District’s competitive solicitation process.

To be considered as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE), entities must meet the federal U.S. Small Business Administration size standards or the SBE standards set by the California Department of General Services. The District will also accept certification from other authorized agencies within the State of California.

A Local Business Enterprises (LBE) is identified as a business located within the District’s service area or within 25 miles from the District’s Carson headquarters for a minimum of one year. Both SBE and LBE interested businesses must register through the District’s online solicitation system, The Bid Network to qualify.

Water is Life Student Art Contest Now Accepting Entries

The Water is Life Student Art Contest is accepting submissions from students in the West Basin service area through March 13.

The contest helps foster awareness of water conservation by challenging students to create artwork following the contest theme “Water is Life,” which promotes the idea of protecting Earth’s limited water resources. The contest is open to 3rd – 12th grade students attending schools located in the West Basin service area.

Additionally, teachers may now request a free rental of classroom art supply materials to support their students’ submission efforts. Teachers will be able to reserve a kit through early March.

Grand prize winners will receive an iPad. Additional winning submissions will be featured on West Basin’s promotional and informational materials during the upcoming year.